Seeking The Provision & Not The Provider

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)


According to the Scriptures above, a person who does not provide for those in his own household has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  Well I guess that settles whether we should be out looking for a job verses sitting at home thinking that one would find you.  In fact, were told in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

So there is a good biblical basis for being diligent and hard working so as to provide for your family.  But what about when a person gets so wrapped up into their work that they lose focus on their relationship with God, and as a result their spouse and others in their life?  

I think all too often we can get so focused on what it is that we do for a living and actually believe that this is who we are, or that it is what we are suppose to do. Our identity should never be found in what we do for a living.  It should be found in what Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary some 2000-years ago.  

Another mistake we so often make is that we can actually begin to think that we are the ones doing the providing, and that everything is hinging on us and our abilities and our effort.  And while it is true that we are to be good workers, we must understand that it is really God who is doing all of the providing.  He is the one who blesses us and adds to all that we have.  It is simply our proper response in respect for Him and His provision that allows us to be faithful in serving those who we work with, as well as those we work for, as if we were serving the Lord Himself.  

We often fall to the temptation from the enemy to believe that if we could just get that one thing we would be happier, more content, satisfied, or that we might even be more secure.  This is a common lie that each Christian faces and will continue to face as long as we are walking and living in our bodies here on earth.  What we find to be true is that there is nothing that can replace our daily relationship with the Lord.

Those things we longed to have are eventually replaced by something else that we're sure will bring us happiness.  And the things that we use to find security in such as money, houses, jobs etc, no longer seem to feel all that secure.  They are now almost a liability in that we are living to maintain them rather than them just being tools and provisions that could be used by us to do the Lord's work. 

A great example of this was the housing market over the past 10-years.  It use to be that a person would work very hard to save money to put down on a home and then he would set a goal to have this home paid for within 15-30 years.  Then as homes were rapidly rising in their value due to many variables such as stated income loans that were implemented for lower income households. Instead of these loans being given to people who needed a little extra help, they were now issued to those who didn't even really have the resources to qualify and pay them back.

This set a new way of living in motion as a person could buy a home and turn around and sell it within a year or two max and make large sums of money.  Or they could refinance the home and buy all those things that they desired, coveted, or felt that they truly needed to have to be happy.  When they ran out of money to pay the house off, they simply sold the home and started the process all over again.  More recreational toys, boats, motorcycles and every other type of temporary satisfaction were being purchased than any other time in World history.  And still people weren't happy.  Instead of swapping houses and cars, they begin to swap spouses and careers in an attempt to seek yet another provision that might fulfill those legitimate needs that only God could fill. 

Well, the market peaked and has somewhat plummeted and everything that was being taken for granted is no longer available.  I have seen several cases personally where people are coming in for Marriage counseling because they can't even afford to divorce and find separate housing.  Now, with nowhere to turn, and nothing to buy to stimulate their senses, or drown their real issues, they are forced to ask themselves the ultimate question, 

Did anything I obtained give me a true peace or happiness?

And the same answer is given every time; No!

Hey Christian, it is the same for us today; we cannot find any satisfaction or fulfillment in the provisions that are only temporary.  We must find our peace, love, acceptance, and satisfaction in the Lord, and only Him.  True fulfillment is found only in seeking the provider, and not the provision.  

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

I want to encourage you today, lay all the stuff down in your life, and seek the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.  You will find everything you need and desire in Him alone.  Test me in this...

STUDY QUESTION: According to Philippians 4:19, where can we find All of our needs from?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you looking to God to supply all of your needs, or are you looking to something in this world such as a job, or a spouse, or another relationship?

APPLICATION: Dont fall for that lie from the evil one that will trap you into finding satisfaction and fulfillment in anything other than Jesus Christ.